Even though I strive to be a minimalist, I’d say there’s a problem with minimalism! Because like hoarding, minimalism focuses on possessions – just from a different perspective. It’s not that material possessions are necessarily bad. I mean, who doesn’t like a warm, comfy bed? But it’s also because God delights in blessing us. He does […]
In the 1970 musical Scrooge, even the grumpy Christmas-hating Scrooge eventually realized that “December the 25th is the dearest day of all the year!” (Watch the trailer here.) I never needed any convincing about that. The sound of Andy Williams singing that Christmas was “the most wonderful time of the year” had always filled our […]
With a tattered sack of belongings slung over his shoulder, we watched as he trudged along, trying in vain to keep his bare feet out of the snow. Miserable, destitute, and in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the huge city, unnoticed – or almost. Unused to such sights it was shocking and […]
Our current house is half the size of the previous place we had up north, and at first I struggled to fit everything in. So I began to see the need to declutter. Life here in our peaceful valley is also slow and simple. It has helped me to rethink my values and priorities. It’s […]
People often ask me why I choose simple living, aka minimalism. It’s not always easy to explain, particularly to those unfamiliar with the concepts. It’s even more challenging when I explain that my journey began with a bottle of vinegar after I discovered that my daughter had stopped using chemical cleaners. Cleaning with vinegar and […]
“Merry and bright? With all the economic woes, inflation, and instability around us? A bright and merry Christmas seems unlikely this year. In fact, celebrating at all in the midst of it all seems nearly impossible, let alone trying to make it merry and bright! And forget about Christmas gifts! So this year I have […]